Queens Wharf Design Competition Stage 1 - Selected Images

If you get the chance - go down to the Northern Steamship Company building in Quay Street and take look at the competition entries. Really worthwhile. Very interesting. There are 250 separate entries - each on its own A1 sheet. Great way to see what's what....

I've selected a few pics. This one is Party Central in the Cool Shed...

...and so is this one. From outside looking toward Queen Street.

...the entries come in all styles and finishes. Was interested in this one's interest in glassed verandahs. Queens Wharf can be a windy and wet place. So shelter and shade are needed. Not sure about grass...

This is an idiosyncratic one I've included because it's fun. The theme apparently - for the yellow shapes - is the randomness of a bouncing rugby ball....

This one's given the Briton Pier finish to Shed 10. Lots of glazing along the roof ridge, and a seriously in-keeping with the times, and ornamental addition at the end of the building. And what about those lamp standards!

Several point out that this is Queen Street Extension. One even explains that historically Queens Wharf was actually named: "Queen Street Wharf". Probably before it got blocked off with the red fence. Interesting ironwork here - including elevated walkways...

High style here. Street art and continuation of Nikau Palms from Queen Street. Not also the greenery in the building which replaces Shed 10 in this entry...

This entry extends the garden idea. Garden on Queens Wharf idea. Even a formal garden, places to sit...

I guess those sheds do have the outline of a tomato house...

And here we get into some glass and an elegant adaptation and renovation of Shed 10. Looks pretty flash in Merino (one of those Resene Paint whites if my memory serves me right...). Also got a few trees...

This is inside Shed 10. The bones are on display. It's reminiscent of the exposure of bones you can see inside Britomart Station. Not really sure about huge trees inside this elegant treatment. But interesting to bring and extend some Queen Street greenery here...

This is a seriously interesting treatment of the end of the wharf. Specially when you look into that flating structure at the end - complete with wind shelters, places to jump, swim and dive off. Even launch and float a canoe. The seating and shading designed for events at the end - not a stadium - but an amphitheatre. One that you can see through. An event place. And Shed 10 survives too...

This idea would have to be one of my favorites. Called "Arrival Hall", it's at the Queen Street end of Shed 10. The floor is removed at one end to achieve this stunning effect....


...and at night, looking toward Shed 10 from Queen Street a light and neon show inside would make spectacular drawcard onto the wharf...

(By the way, about half the entries in the competition are what I would describe as architectural visions for the whole wharf, which involve starting from scratch. Blank slate approach. Which I don't personally support, and which I consider to be unaffordable. That's my bias. I support adaptive reuse of the sheds.)



The end of the Cool Shed gets the Marae treatment here, plus a waka moored close by. Many of the entries showed Koru and other Maori motif patterns, but it was interesting to see some buildings getting the treatment...

Many and varied treatments to deal to the weather and generally provide enclosed or sheltered space...

This is the real wood treatment for the sheds and wharf decking. Nikau presence again, and special glass light ports into the roofing of the sheds. Again, a really enthusiastic end of wharf space for fishers, swimmers and paddlers alike. Get your feet wet here...

... and again...

Many of the entries recognise the need for shelter from the elements, and provide shade structures ranging from sails to shade houses to stretched sail type arrangements. This one was a bit different, and combined the ability to shade a pathway to the end of the wharf, while retaining the shape of an iconic kiwi image. The Silver Fern.

.... and again.

I repeat, this is a very interesting exhibition of ideas. I would encourage you to go - look - and complete a few forms down there, about what you think of the ideas you will see.